Sunday, 20 February 2011

Its been a while since i actually made anything in the kitchen that was worth sharing with you guys, but last night i found myself home, alone, on a Saturday night... you can imagine the pathetic scene..... I came back from the gym to find my house mate gone to see his family. The TV isn't working properly because of the reception mess up caused by the typical British rainfall. I have seen all the dvds we own. And i'm too broke to go out. ( i can imagine you are all shedding a little tear for me now haha.)

HOWEVER, this was a great opportunity to use up some of the random crap that my kitchen accumulates.

After having dinner, triple quarter pounder burger with all the trimmings (YUM!), i set to work dragging out what i had. Previously i had some vanilla pod steeped in sugar at the back of the cupboard which i had forgotten about, in addition to a pot of culinary lavender which i bought ages ago to try with sautéed Anya potatoes... needless to say that combination was horrendous.

So, all is good until i remember i do not have any eggs, and i am too broke to go get some seeing as they are "non essentials"... We have Butter, Vanilla sugar, Clementine Zest

Flour and Culinary Lavender..... It could only mean one thing.....

Lavender and Clementine Zest Shortbread cookies!:

Ingredients125g Butter55g Sugar (caster preferably)180g Plain FlourZest of 3 Small/Medium Clementines1 Table spoon of LavenderPinch of salt (to taste)Method1. Preheat Oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.2. Combine the Butter and Flour in a large bowl by hand.3. Once fully incorporated add the sugar and salt to the dough mixture and fully combine.4. Add the Zest and fully combine5. Add the Lavender and fully combine.6. Roll by hand on a flat surface in a cylindrical shape (like a tube) and cut cookies vertically down with a sharp knife to a thickness of about 3/4 of an inch.7. Position on baking paper in a baking tray with about an inch of space between each one, as they will expand while cooking, and leave in the fridge for 20 minutes to cool.8. Remove from Fridge and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cookies turn a golden light brown.9. Once finished remove from oven, place on a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes.

Complete!

By time they were sitting out cooling my house mate had returned with some of his visiting family members.. and i couldn't tell them "NO! I need those to take poncy pictures of!!!" haha.

But at least i managed to get one!

Hope you guys enjoy these as much as i did. I used Clementine because i think the taste is a bit more floral and perfumey than orange zest which can be a bit harsh. The Clementine mellowness and the floral lavender are a good combination, but im sure you guys can think of some equally great ones. All the best!